kazakhstanmap.jpgResources for Teaching English as a Second Language in Kazakhstan

By: Rudi Bracaglia, Jacqueline Carrell, Rosie Hanneke,
Allison Rein, Sarah Reynolds, Laura Travis
(Language, Linguistics & Literature Group)

Our Researcher:

  • Sara Osman is a graduate student at UMBC in the Master of Arts in Instructional Systems Development: English as a Second Language program.
  • After she graduates this May, Sara will be moving to Kazakhstan to teach English as a second language in a Kazakh institution of higher education. All classes at this institution will be taught in English, not just the English class.
  • More background details
    • She will live in Almaty, Kazakhstan with her Kazakh fiancé
    • She speaks fluent Russian but not Kazakh
    • She is currently within the USMAI system, so she has access to similar databases as UMCP.

Our Process:

  • Allison asked her if she would be willing to have research done for her trip to Kazakhstan
  • The group then came together to brainstorm some things to ask her about and Allison sent her an email
  • Sara's response was open-ended, but she did indicate that she would be interested in:
    • digital storytelling
    • sources that were easily accessible from Kazakhstan
    • sources that focused on the social elements of teaching language rather than grammar
  • Some other issues we took into consideration:
    • different system, unknown level of resources, technologies, and support
    • teaching British English rather than American English